Reinforcement for wooden heels



April 16, 1940. H. LEBLANC v REINFORCEMENT FOR WOODEN HEELS Filed May 15, 1939 fizw/y/a/t' 179/271 [ei Za/zr Patented Apr. 16, 1940 I 1 1' Y a:

UNITED fiSTATEIS PATENT oFFjIcE g 2,197,108 I REINFORCEMENT FOR WOODEN HEELS Henri Leblanc, Senneterre, Quebec, Canada, as-

signor of twenty per cent to Clement Lallier and twenty per cent to Elphege Lallier, both .of

Montreal,

Quebec, Canada, and twenty per cent to Clovis Langevin and twenty per cent to Joseph Bilodeau, both of Senneterre, Quebec,

Canada Application May 15, 1939, Serial No. 273,654

3 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel device for reinforcing wooden heels, particularly the high or French heels of ladies shoes, to prevent them from overturning or breaking.

The principal object of the invention isto provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective device of this character which can be applied by simple operations. The device includes essentially an anchor plate at the top of the heel and a stem extending from the plate into the heel. In this connection, another object of the invention is to provide a firm connection between the plate and the stem so that they do not break apart.

The stem is'inserted into an elongated hole in the heel, and frequently the angle of this hole varies. Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing device with some resiliency to accommodate the variation in the angle of the hole, without sacrificing the effectiveness and durability of the device.

In the accomplishment of these objects, the top plate is formed with a pair of parallel slots through which is threaded a strip of metal. The strip is then doubled on itself in the form of'a tube lying at the proper angle to the plate for insertion: in the heel. A firm joint, is formed between the strip and the plate in the portion of the latter between the slots. The tube constituting the stem is necessarily split, and this split provides the resiliency for the purpose mentioned above.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the strip before being shaped; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the plate;

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the plate, showing in elevation the finished stem attached thereto; 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the plate;

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the stem and plate at the joint;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical section at right angles to Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical section of a heel showing the device applied thereto, and Figure 9 is a detail of Figure 8, showing the stem anchor- In Figure 1 is shown a blank I which is to be formed to constitute the stem for insertion in the heel, as will presently be described. The blank is an elongated member, with its central portion widened at Z and its ends notched to form prongs 3 for a purpose that will also presently be described.

In Figure 2 is shown a blank 4 of such shapeas to lie on the top of a shoe heel. This blank is formed with a pair of short, spaced parallel slots preferably running transversely of the blank but which may lie longitudinal thereof if preferredor desired.

The strip I is threaded through the slot so thatits central portion 2 lies on the blank 4 inand between the slots 5. the piece 6 between the slots is then subjected to pressure to depress the part 6 and bring the intermediate part of the portion 2 flush with the top of the blank 4 as clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 7.

The strip I is doubled over on itself below plate 4 and is shaped to form a tube 1 which is necessarily split at 8, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The upper end of the tube is pinched at 9 under the piece 6 to bind the strip or stem thereto and thus interlock the parts securely.

The heel I0 is formed with a hole or bore II adapted to receive the tube I. Before inserting the latter, a hardball I2 is droppedinto the hole. When the lower end of the tube is driven against the ball, the notched ends of the strip I are spread out laterally, and the prongs 3 are forced into the body of the heel, as illustrated in Figure9, to anchor the lower end of the tube. In the final position, the plate 4 rests on the top of the heel as shown in Figure 8.

The angle of the hole II in the heel may vary somewhat in a number of heels. The split in the tube I renders the tube sufiiciently flexible or resilient to accommodateitself to the angle of the hole. This action however does not weaken the joint between the stem and the plate 4, as

It will now be seen that the invention provides a simple and inexpensive device of the character and for the purposes described, as well as a device having definite structural tages over prior devices.

7 Although specific embodimentoi' the invention advarthas been illustrated and described, it will be.

understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. A reinforcing device for shoe heels comprising a flat plate having a pair of spaced parallel slots, a strip threaded through said slots and doubled upon itself to form a stem at an angle to the plate at one side thereof, the portion of said strip at the other side of said plate and between the slots being pressed down flush with said other side, said stem being shaped as a split tube.

2. A reinforcing device for shoe heels comprising a flat plate having a pair of spaced parallel slots, a strip threaded through said slots and doubled upon itself to form a stem at an angle to the plate at one side thereof, the portion of said strip at the other side of said plateand'between the slots being pressed down flush with said other side, said strip being pinched at the first named side of said plate against the portion of the plate between said slots, said stembeing shaped as a split tube.

3. A reinforcing device for shoe heels comprising a flat plate having a pair of spaced parallel slots, a strip threaded through said slots and doubled upon itself to form a stem at an angle to the plate at pressed into locking engagement with said plate at said slots, said stem being shaped at a split tube.

HENRI LEBLANC.

one side thereof, said strip being 

